In pursuit of the fluoride anion with a tetrahydrocarbazole derivative: A highly selective sensor


UZGÖREN BARAN A., ÖZER D., KURTAY G., KESKİN E., ÖZYAVAŞ Z.

Journal of Molecular Structure, cilt.1364, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 1364
  • Basım Tarihi: 2026
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2026.145832
  • Dergi Adı: Journal of Molecular Structure
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Chemical Abstracts Core, Chimica, Compendex, INSPEC
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Acylhydrazone, Anion sensing, Density functional theory (DFT), Fluoride, Intramolecular charge transfer (ICT), Tetrahydrocarbazole, Time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT)
  • Hacettepe Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

A tetrahydrocarbazole-based acylhydrazone receptor (PyThc) was designed and synthesized as an optical probe for fluoride (F⁻) in DMSO. PyThc shows a selective colorimetric/UV–vis response to F⁻ over common anions (Cl⁻, Br⁻, I⁻, CN⁻, ClO₄⁻, H₂PO₄⁻, HSO₄⁻, NO₃⁻, AcO⁻).1H NMR titrations indicate a stepwise process: the amide N–H signal disappears at low F⁻ equivalents, the indole N–H is suppressed at higher equivalents, and a broad resonance near 16 ppm emerges, consistent with [HF₂]⁻ formation. Dispersion-corrected DFT (ωB97X-D/def2-TZVP, PCM/DMSO) was used to rank ground-state conformers and rationalize duplicated NMR sets; the Z-amide/E-imine conformer is most stable, and an O=C–N–H torsional scan predicts an 18–20 kcal·mol⁻¹ barrier consistent with slow exchange. TD-DFT reproduces the neutral band (∼270 nm) and predicts a red-shifted transition (∼330 nm) for the deprotonated form, supporting selective fluoride sensing.